Soundbar
Products
In The Lab
Forums
Newsletters
 Insider access
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Best
Soundbars Subwoofer Samsung Dolby Atmos Bose LG All-In-One Sonos Music Under $200 Small Under $500 Vizio Dialogue Sony Under $300 Under $100 Movies Budget 5.1
Tools
Compare Table Review List Review Index Graph Custom Ratings
Popular
Samsung HW-Q990D Hisense AX5125H Samsung HW-Q800D Samsung HW-Q930D Samsung HW-B750D Sonos Arc Ultra Samsung HW-Q600C/Q60CC Sonos Beam (Gen 2) LG S95TR Samsung HW-S60D LG S90TR Samsung HW-B650 LG S80TR Samsung HW-Q990C JBL Bar 500 Sonos Arc LG SC9S Bose Smart Soundbar Sony HT-S400 Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra
219
Soundbars bought and tested
Supported by you via insider access, and when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more.
We are hiring!
  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Sonos Beam vs Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sonos Beam
Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 10, 2024 04:31 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Sonos Beam Picture
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Picture
Channels
3.0
Channels
5.1.2

Variants

  • Beam (Black)
  • Beam (White)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 (Black)
  • Smart Soundbar 900 (White)

Review

See Sonos Beam Review
See Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Review
0 
0 

Our Verdict

Sonos Beam

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is better than the Sonos Beam. It's better built and has a better surround performance. Unlike the Sonos soundbar, it also supports Dolby Atmos content. The Sonos is still a solid choice for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. It also has a more compact design, which some users may prefer.

0 

Check Price

Black
Beam
Searching
Finding store
Black
Smart Soundbar 900
Searching
Finding store
White
Beam
Searching
Finding store
White
Smart Soundbar 900
Searching
Finding store
Read more

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

6.9
7.5

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
6.6

Surround 5.1 
 

3.1
6.4

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.4
8.1

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sonos Beam Style photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sonos Beam Style photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

No
No

Enclosure 
 

No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sonos Beam Style photo - satellites
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sonos Beam Dimensions photo - bar
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

25.6" (65.0 cm)
41.1" (104.5 cm)

Height  

2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.2" (5.7 cm)

Depth  

4.0" (10.1 cm)
4.3" (11.0 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sonos Beam Dimensions photo - sub
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sonos Beam Dimensions photo - satellites
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam Bar Mounting Holes
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sonos Beam Satellite Mounting Holes
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build quality photo  

Sonos Beam Build quality photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sonos Beam In The Box photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.2
7.4

Stereo Setup  

Sonos Beam Stereo Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

3.0
5.1.2

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
No Preset

Slope 
 

0.63
0.05

Standard Error 
 

3.39 dB
2.64 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

49.7 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.5
7.4

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
0

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

-6
0

Slope 
 

0.18
0.05

Standard Error 
 

2.34 dB
2.64 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

49.7 Hz
50.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.26 dB
2.00 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

6.4
8.1

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

91.2 dB SPL
93.9 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.54 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.85 dB
1.96 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.2

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.73

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.51
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.3
8.6

Center Setup  

Sonos Beam Center Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.39
0.50

Std. Err. 
 

2.87 dB
2.57 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.0 dB SPL
95.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.97
0.50

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.56
2.37
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

3.1
6.4

Surround Setup  

Sonos Beam Surround Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

-0.27
0.18

Std. Err. 
 

5.44 dB
2.51 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

85.2 dB SPL
95.8 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.74
0.45

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.95
2.35

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

0.0
6.6

Height Setup  

Sonos Beam Height Setup
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

Sonos Beam H Frequency Response
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Not Supported
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

N/A
0.63

Std. Err. 
 

N/A
3.20 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
90.4 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

N/A
0.47

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

N/A
1.14
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.4
4.5

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
No

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

No
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sonos Beam Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sonos Beam Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

Adapter into HDMI ARC
1

HDMI Out 
 

ARC
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

6.3
8.1

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Up To 7.1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
6.5

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

9.0

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

59 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

61 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

61 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

81 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

85 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

95 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

9.8
0.0

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

-14 ms

Optical 
 

0 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

7.3

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

135 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

189 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

3.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

No
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sonos Beam Interface photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Interface photo

Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sonos Beam Controls photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sonos Beam Remote photo
Bose Smart Soundbar 900 Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Beam
Searching
Finding store
Black
Smart Soundbar 900
Searching
Finding store
White
Beam
Searching
Finding store
White
Smart Soundbar 900
Searching
Finding store
Back to Top

Sonos Beam

Bose Smart Soundbar 900

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sonos Beam vs Bose Smart Soundbar 900: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

Follow Discussion0 followingSee All Soundbars & Speakers DiscussionsCopy link
0 
PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones
You have 9/10 free reviews left
To access
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices
and
other exclusive site features
Become an Insider
We make money directly from you via insider access (which gives you access to extra features) and when you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer. Learn more about how we work.
We buy our own products, just like you, mostly from the United States. When a product is discontinued or no longer popular, we sell the review units locally. You can see what products we currently have for sale here.
© 2025 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visit our corporate site.